One man dead, 2 hurt in gas station robbery

CEBU, Philippines - A suspected robber was killed while two men were injured after a shootout between the owner of a gasoline station and a group of robbers past 10 p.m. Sunday night in Barangay Luray 2, Toledo City.

The shootout happened after Raul Monsanto, of Luray 2, Toledo City, decided to return fire at the robbers after his pump attendant Wiljune Nacua, 20, of Cabangcalan Negros Oriental was shot in the legs.

Based on initial investigation, around 10:15 p.m. on Sunday, six robbers riding three motorcycles arrived at the Shell gasoline station.

Four of them acted as lookouts while the other two, wearing full-face helmets, pointed a .38 cal. revolver at cashier Cristitoto Tanoco and demanded he open the door to his booth.

Tanoco opened the door out of fear and the robbers took the P6,000 earnings of the day and also two mobile phones from the cashier.

Pump attendant Aron Perequin, 20, of Cabancalan, Negros Oriental, saw that they were being robbed and managed to run to Monsanto’s house nearby and told him about the ongoing robbery.

He was shot at by the robbers twice but was not hit, but his co-worker Nacua, who was on his way outside Monsanto’s house at the time, was hit in his left knee and right leg.

Monsanto grabbed a .38 cal. revolver and shot it out with the robbers. Monsanto, who is a gun club member and a known sharpshooter in Toledo City, was able to hit a robber in the head, killing him instantly.

Monsanto was also shot in his left leg during the exchange of gunfire.

When the other robbers saw that one of their companions was down they immediately fled on two motorcycles, leaving one behind.

Monsanto and Nacua were brought to the Toledo City Hospital but were later transferred to a private hospital in Cebu City.

Policemen rushed to the crime scene and recovered from the slain robber’s body a driver’s license of a certain Evan Dagala Bejec, of Barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City.  But when they conducted a follow-up operation the police found out the suspect could also be a certain Randy Jakosalem. They have yet to verify his real identity.

Police also recovered a motorcycle with a temporary plate number 2415 XO, thirteen empty shells and six metallic fragments of a 9mm cal. pistol, and a .38 cal. revolver loaded with six live rounds.

Police investigators found out that prior to the Shell gasoline station robbery the same group also robbed Platinum gasoline station just a block away, taking P7,000 cash. CCTV footage showed that one of the robbers might be female.

Chief Inspector Michael Anthony Bastes, Toledo City Police Station chief, is set to coordinate with Cebu City Police Office to determine the true identity of the slain robber and of the whole group.  (FREEMAN)